Austin Utility Coach created the forerunner of modern rear-engined transit and over-the-road buses. The Utility Coach was the first production model bus to utilize a transverse rear engine driving through a transmission and driveshaft set at an angle to the differential.
This system, developed and patented by Dwight Austin, became known as angle drive. This allowed a bus engine to be placed transversely across the back of a vehicle. It consisted of a set of gears that redirected the transmission’s output shaft 90 degrees forward – 45 degrees at the transmission, 45 degrees at the axle – allowing power to be transmitted to an offset differential housed at the back of the vehicle’s rear drive axle.
Production of this pioneering bus ended when Yellow Coach, recognizing the importance of Dwight E. Austin’s patented angle drive, hired him (acquiring his patent) in 1934. Thereafter, angle drive became a key feature of Yellow Coach and successor GM buses until it gave up bus manufacture.
Other manufacturers embraced the Utility Coach concept. Kenworth built one model KHC-22 in August 1932 which went to Portland Traction. Mack built an almost photographic copy as its model CW starting in 1935.
Sources included: Coachbuilt.com
